Chris Gard and Connie Yates of Bedfont , the parents of Charlie Gard, want to take their son, who suffers from a rare genetic condition, to a hospital that can offer him with pioneering treatment not available in the UK.

To do so, the couple launched a fundraising website with the aim of raising the necessary £1.2million in costs, and has so far raised £312,000.

Charlie was born with a form of mitochondrial disease - a condition that causes progressive muscle weakness.

Mr Justice Francis examined preliminary issues at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Friday March 3.

The judge was told by Katie Gallop QC, representing the doctors at GOSH, that Charlie was deaf and unable to cry.

She said doctors thought that withdrawal of life-support treatment would be in Charlie’s best interests and told the judge: “The hospital’s position is that every day that passes is a day that is not in the child’s best interests.”

Barrister Sophia Roper, who represents Charlie’s parents, told the judge: "His parents believe that he is in much better shape than the hospital does."

Mr Justice Francis heard that a US hospital had agreed to accept Charlie as a patient if treatment could be paid for.